The Underground Railroad eBook

ARRIVAL FROM VIRGINIA, 1858.

PETER NELSON. (RESEMBLED AN IRISHMAN.)

The coming of this strange-looking individual caused
much surprise, representing, as he did, if not a full-blooded
Irishman, a man of Irish descent. He was sufficiently
fair to pass for white anywhere, with his hat on—­with
it off, his hair would have betrayed him; it was light,
but quite woolly. Nor was he likely to be called
handsome; he was interesting, nevertheless. It
was evident, that the “white man’s party”
had damaged him seriously. He represented that
he had been in the bonds of one James Ford, of Stafford
county, Virginia, and that this “Ford was a
right tough old fellow, who owned about two dozen head.”
“How does he treat them?” he was asked.
“He don’t treat them well no way,”
replied the passenger. “Why did you leave?”
was the next question. “Because of his
fighting, knocking and carrying on so,” was the
prompt answer. The Committee fully interviewed
him, and perceived that he had really worn the fetters
of Slavery, and that he was justified in breaking his
bonds and fleeing for refuge to Canada, and was entitled
to aid and sympathy. Peter was about twenty-four
years of age. He left nine brothers and sisters
in bondage.

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*

ARRIVAL FROM WASHINGTON, 1858.

MARY JONES AND SUSAN BELL.

These “weaker vessels” came from the seat
of government. Mary confessed that she had been
held to service as the property of Mrs. Henry Harding,
who resided at Rockville, some miles out of Washington.
Both Mr. and Mrs Harding she considered “bad
enough,” but added, “if it had not been
for the young set I could get along with them; they
can’t be pleased.” Yet Mary had not
fared half so hard under the Hardings as many slaves
had under their claimants. Intellectually, she
was quite above the average; she was tall, and her
appearance was such as to awaken sympathy. Through
the permission of her claimant she had been in the
habit of hiring her time for three dollars per month
and find herself; she was also allowed to live in
Washington. Such privileges, with wages at so
low a rate, were thought to be extra, and could only
be obtained in exceptional cases.

“In nine years,” said Mary, “I have
not even as much as received an apron from them,”
(her owners). The meanness of the system under
which she had been required to live, hourly appeared
clearer and clearer to her, as she was brought into
contact with sympathizing spirits such as she had
never known before.

Susan, who was in Mary’s charge, was an invalid
child of four years of age, who never walked, and
whose mother had escaped to Canada about three years
before under circumstances which obliged her to leave
this child, then only a year old.

Susan had been a great sufferer, and so had her mother,
who had been a long time anxiously looking and praying
for her coming, as she had left her in charge of friends
who were to take care of her until the way might open
for her safe delivery to her mother. Many letters,
fitted to awaken very deep feelings came from the
mother about this child. It was a satisfaction
to the Committee to feel that they could be the medium
in aiding in the reunion of mother and child.